I spent five years at Forbes writing about business and leadership, attracting nearly one million unique visitors to Forbes.com each month. While here, I assistant edited the annual World’s 100 Most Powerful Women package and helped launch and grow ForbesWoman.com. I've appeared on CBS, CNBC, MSNBC and E Entertainment and speak often at conferences and events on women's leadership topics. I graduated summa cum laude from New York University with degrees in journalism and sociology and was honored with a best in business award from the Society of American Business Editors and Writers (SABEW) in 2012. My work has appeared in Businessweek, Ladies’ Home Journal, The Aesthete and Acura Style. I live in New York City with my husband and can be found on Twitter @Jenna_Goudreau, Facebook, and Google+.

8/24/2011 @ 11:53AM21,720 views

The 20 Youngest Power Women of 2011

Today, Forbes releases its annual list of the world’s 100 most powerful women, a ranking that spans countries, industries and spheres of influence. Most interesting, these female leaders range in age from 25 (Lady Gaga) to 85 (Queen Elizabeth II). Although they are concentrated in their 50s, with an average of 54 years under their belts, the 20 youngest on our list prove that power can be attained well before middle age.

The power of youth may be harnessed to gain an edge in certain industries. Entertainer and political activist Lady Gaga, No. 11, is the youngest woman on this year’s list, and is well known for manipulating her appearance in an industry that demands that your body be your brand. Joining her are fellow entertainers 29-year-old singer Beyonce Knowles, No. 18, 31-year-old model Gisele Bundchen, No. 60, and 36-year-old actor Angelina Jolie, No. 29.

Youth also offers an advantage in manipulating technology—a la Gaga’s 12.9 million Twitter followers—and in building it. Google’s 36-year-old Marissa Mayer, No. 42, joined the tech giant as its first female engineer and 20th employee in 1999 and is now VP of all local and location-based products, its next key growth driver. Her Google colleague, 43-year-old advertising exec Susan Wojcicki, No. 16, is another of the power list’s under-50 club. And of course, “Twitter Globetrotter,” 41-year-old Katie Jacobs Stanton, No. 56, climbed to VP of international strategy at one of the world’s most successful tech startups.

Often, early success is simply a manifestation of super-sized drive and ability. Facebook COO, 41-year-old Sheryl Sandberg, who this year shot to No. 5, served as chief of staff for the U.S. Treasury Department under President Bill Clinton when she was in her 20s. Similarly, 46-year-old billionaire and Chinese real-estate chief Zhang Xin, No. 48, cofounded her company SOHO China at age 30. She got her start working in factories by day and attending school at night, eventually earning degrees from the University of Sussex and Cambridge University and working for top companies like Goldman Sachs and Travelers.

While in many fields youth can be an obstacle to overcome—battling bosses, coworkers and clients to be taken seriously—it may also provide a leg up in trend-spotting. HBO president, 42-year-old Sue Naegle, No. 88, was the youngest agent at United Talent Agency to make partner at age 29. While at HBO she has nurtured cultural phenomena like Six Feet Under, Game of Thrones, Boardwalk Empire and True Blood.

Although real power may be rare among the 20- and 30-something crowd, those that utilize rather than deny their prime likely have long futures ahead in their chosen careers.

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